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Fine-scale genetic diversity of the Brazilian Pantaneiro horse breed adapted to flooded regions

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Abstract

Among the animal species first introduced in Brazil during the country’s discovery, horses (Equus caballus) stand out because of their evolutionary history and relationship with humans. Among the Brazilian horse breeds, the Pantaneiro draws attention due to its adaptative traits. Blood samples of 116 Pantaneiro horses were divided into six populations based on their sampling location, aiming to identify the existence of genetic structure and quantify genetic diversity within and between them. Populations were compared to elucidate genetic variability and differentiation better and assess the impact of Pantanal’s natural geographic barriers on gene flow between populations. Data from the GGP Equine BeadChip (Geneseek-Neogen, 65.157 SNPs) was used to assess basic diversity parameters, genetic distance (FST), principal component analysis (PCA), and population structure (ADMIXTURE) for the sampled animals. Mantel test was also performed to investigate the correlation between the populations’ genetic and geographic distances. Results showed high genetic variability in all populations, with elevated levels of admixture in their structure. High levels of admixture make it challenging to establish a racial pattern and, consequently, populations within the breed, being that only one of the populations differentiated itself from the others. No significant correlations between genetic and geographic distances were observed, indicating that environmental barriers did not hinder gene flow between populations, and neither farmers’ selection practices might have change breed genetic composition significantly. Low genetic distance and similar heterozygosity values were observed among populations, suggesting strong genetic proximity and low differentiation. Thereby, the Pantaneiro breed does not exhibit genetic subpopulations and could be considered, for conservation purposes, a single big population in the Panatnal region. This study will support sampling strategies for National genebank.

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Data will be made available upon reasonable request.

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All softwares are listed in the “Material and methods” section of the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

To the Associação de Criadores do Cavalo Pantaneiro for help in collecting samples.

Funding

CAPES and CNPq for scholarships and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply for financing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil

    Marcelo Bchara Nogueira & Danielle Assis de Faria

  2. Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil

    Concepta McManus

  3. Embrapa Pantanal, Rua 21 de Setembro,n° 1.880, Bairro Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Corumbá, MS, 79320-900, Brazil

    Sandra Aparecida Oliveria Santos

  4. Final W5 Norte, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos E Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brazil

    Patrícia Ianella & Samuel Rezende Paiva

Authors
  1. Marcelo Bchara Nogueira
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  2. Concepta McManus
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  3. Danielle Assis de Faria
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  4. Sandra Aparecida Oliveria Santos
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  5. Patrícia Ianella
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  6. Samuel Rezende Paiva
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Contributions

MB—data analysis, original draft elaboration; CMM -conception, analyses, financing, correction; DF – data analysis, original draft and corrections; SS – conception, sample collection, corrections; PI—DNA extraction, analyses, correction; SP – conception, financing, corrections.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Concepta McManus.

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Ethics approval

All procedures for collection of biological samples were approved by the Committee on Ethics for Experiments with the use of Animals under Protocol Number UnB 33/2009. After collection and DNA extraction from blood, hair, and tissue samples, these were stored in the National Genebank at Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Nogueira, M.B., McManus, C., de Faria, D.A. et al. Fine-scale genetic diversity of the Brazilian Pantaneiro horse breed adapted to flooded regions. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 525 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02971-1

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